Search

06 Sept 2025

INTERIORS Getting a good deal

05 Jul 2010 6:13 PM

Interior designer Naoimh Tuohy shares invaluable tips for getting the right tradesman at the right price.
Nails

In the trade


Interior Design
Niamh Tuohy

Getting value for my money, especially these days, is important when dealing with tradesmen – and if you don’t ask, you don’t get. So, here are some tips and tricks to getting the right tradesman at the right price:

  • Get several – at least three – quotes. It may sound obvious, but it’s the leverage with which you will get your prices down. Let each builder/electrician/carpenter know that they have competition so that you’re not wasting their time and more importantly, they’re not wasting yours.
  • Be friendly. If you come across as too pushy from the beginning, the tradesman may well decide to add on money in anticipation of having to work with a difficult person. So, smile and try to have some fun.
  • Do your research. There’s no point in negotiating over something when you’re not sure of the different models/sizes/colours/finishes and their cost. Let the person you’re talking to know that YOU know your stuff.
  • Get references. As the saying goes – ‘You’re only as good as your last job’. Make sure to talk to people who have used these tradesmen before. Go to see their previous projects if possible.
  • Pay as you go. Never pay anyone upfront. ’Tis madness. As the job evolves and work gets completed, then pay in instalments. If this is not possible, always leave a little owing at the end, just to make sure that you’re happy with the finished product.
  • Stand up for yourself. If you think you’re being quoted a ridiculous price, say so. I recall asking a plumber “Do you really think I came floating down the local river in a bubble with two oars, one called ‘stupid’ and the other called ‘gullible’?” I’m still waiting for his reply…

Naoimh Tuohy is an interior designer based in Westport and working countrywide. Originally coming from a property background, she made the jump from valuing buildings to redesigning their interiors. She has worked freelance for the last six years and specialises in show houses, home-owner renovations and investment-property fit-outs. She can be contacted at 087 7625539.

To continue reading this article,
please subscribe and support local journalism!

Subscribing will allow you access to all of our premium content and archived articles.

Subscribe

To continue reading this article for FREE,
please kindly register and/or log in.

Registration is absolutely 100% FREE and will help us personalise your experience on our sites. You can also sign up to our carefully curated newsletter(s) to keep up to date with your latest local news!

Register / Login

Most Popular

Sponsored Content

Multimedia

We've got Donegal Covered...

Subscribe or register today to discover more from DonegalLive.ie

Buy a paper

Buy the e-paper of the Donegal Democrat, Donegal People's Press, Donegal Post and Inish Times here for instant access to Donegal's premier news titles.

Buy Now
Get the news

Keep up with the latest news from Donegal with our daily newsletter featuring the most important stories of the day delivered to your inbox every evening at 5pm.

Register Here
Iconic Media is Ireland's largest independently owned regional newspaper and media group, with an unrivalled audience in print, online and mobile. We have 19 regional newspapers and 21 digital sites.

Iconic Digital Titles

  • Carlow Live
  • Clare Live
  • Derry Now
  • Donegal Live
  • Éire Bheo
  • Inish Live
  • Ireland Live
  • Kildare Live
  • Kildare Now
  • Kilkenny Live
  • Laois Live
  • Leitrim Live
  • Letterkenny Live
  • Limerick Live
  • Longford Live
  • Louth Live
  • Mayo Live
  • Nenagh Live
  • Offaly Live
  • Tipperary Live
  • Waterford Live

    • Iconic Print Titles

  • Clonmel Nationalist
  • County Derry Post
  • Derry News
  • Donegal Democrat
  • Donegal Post
  • Dundalk Democrat
  • Homes in Donegal
  • Inish Times
  • Kilkenny People
  • Leinster Express
  • Leinster Leader
  • Leitrim Observer
  • Letterkenny Live
  • Limerick Leader
  • Longford Leader
  • Mayo News
  • Midland Tribune
  • Tipperary Star
  • Tullamore Tribune

    • This publication supports the work of the Press Council of Ireland and Office of the Press Ombudsman, and our staff operate within the Code of Practice of the Press Council. You can obtain a copy of the Code, or contact the Council, at www.presscouncil.ie, Lo-call 1800 208 080 or email: info@presscouncil.ie.

    © 2025 Iconic Media